1.9 KiB
1.9 KiB
Early Christianity
Overview
Early Christianity emerged in the 1st century CE as a Jewish sect in Roman Judaea, growing into a major religion across the Roman Empire before becoming the state religion under Theodosius I in 380 CE. @t[=380]
Key Facts
- Origin: Roman Judaea, ~30 CE @t[~30]
- Founder: Jesus of Nazareth (~4 BCE – ~30 CE) @t[~4 BCE..~30 CE]
- Key figures: Paul of Tarsus, Peter, James
- Sacred texts: New Testament (written ~50–120 CE) @t[~50..~120]
- State religion of Rome: 380 CE (Edict of Thessalonica) @t[=380]
Spread and Development
- Paul's missionary journeys (~46–60 CE) spread Christianity across the eastern Mediterranean @t[~46..~60] 1
- Persecutions under Nero (64 CE) @t[=64], Decius (250 CE) @t[=250], Diocletian (303–311 CE) @t[=303..=311]
- Edict of Milan (313 CE): Constantine legalized Christianity @t[=313]
- Council of Nicaea (325 CE): First ecumenical council, established the Nicene Creed @t[=325]
- Edict of Thessalonica (380 CE): Christianity became the state religion @t[=380]
Key Theological Developments
- Christological debates: Nature of Christ debated from Council of Nicaea through Council of Chalcedon @t[=325..=451] 2
- Council of Chalcedon (451 CE): Defined Christ as having two natures (divine and human); caused the Chalcedonian Schism, splitting Oriental Orthodox churches @t[=451] 2
- Donatist controversy (4th–6th century CE): Schism over whether clergy moral failings invalidated sacraments; condemned at Council of Carthage @t[~311..~600] 3
- Canon formation: New Testament canon largely settled by ~4th century CE @t[~300..~400]
- Monasticism: Desert Fathers in Egypt (~3rd–4th century CE) @t[~200..~400] 3